VANCOUVER - Since its inception in 1995, BC Cup Day has been a top attraction at Hastings Racecourse in terms of attendance and wagering handle.

The tradition will no doubt continue with the 19th chapter on Monday, August 4 when strictly B.C.-breds strut their stuff in six major stakes races offering more than $325,000 in purse money.

A formidable 10-race card begins at a special holiday time of 12:50 p.m. with the headline attraction being the $75,000 Redekop BC Cup Classic (2:50 p.m.) for 3-year-olds & up traveling 1 1/8 miles. Throughout the afternoon there will be five $50,000 stakes restricted to horses bred in British Columbia: the Nursery for 2-year-old colts and geldings; the Distaff for fillies and mares 3-years-old & up; the Dogwood for 3-year-old fillies; the Debutante for 2-year-old fillies and Stellar’s Jay for 3-year-old colts and geldings.

In addition to the stakes lineup, there is the $32,000 David Forster Hall of Fame and the $20,000 BC Marathon. Also, the late Pick 4 on Monday will have a guaranteed $25,000 in the kitty for races 7 through 10.

MARIO RETURNS WITH OTHER TOP VISITING JOCKEYS

Hometown riding hero Mario Gutierrez along with distinguished veteran jockey Aaron Gryder will be returning to Hastings from Southern California to take part in the BC Cup races. They will be joined by Northlands Park leading rider Rico Walcott and Emerald Downs’ top jockey Leslie Mawing.

Gutierrez won the last two races on Del Mar’s card this past Wednesday, including a stunning upset on Espirito Bueno that paid $99.60, $39.80, $20.40. The Triactor (2-8-9) returned $8,955.60 on a $1 ticket and the Superfecta (2-8-9-1) returned $86,982.30 on a $1 ticket.

RALPH BOWER PHOTO GALLERY TO BE UNVEILED MONDAY

Prior to the start of BC Cup Day racing on Monday the Ralph Bower Horse Racing Photo Gallery will be unveiled at 12 o’clock noon with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony at the entrance to the original Casino Room at Hastings Racecourse, easily accessible from the tarmac area just steps away from the winner’s circle.

Chuck Keeling, Vice President, Stakeholders Relations and Responsible Gaming with Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, will share the opening celebration with long-time friend of racing Jeannie Spence, manager of the Hastings Jockeys Benefit Fund. Prints of the Ralph Bower originals on display in the Gallery will be available to the public for $20 (11” x 14) and $15 (8” x 10”) with entire proceeds going to the Jockey Fund.

Hastings General Manager Darren MacDonald has offered weekly prizes to racing fans supporting the cause. “We’ll have some attractive packages for our customers who contribute to the success of this venture,” MacDonald says. “Everyone is welcome to drop by during race days and enjoy something they will never forget. People are going to love what they see in this unique collection of historic photos.”

REMINDER: NO RACING SATURDAY

In order to put together quality cards for Sunday and Monday, there is no racing scheduled for Saturday, August 2. Sunday’s 8-race card with the normal 1:50 p.m. start features the second division of the Championship Series with 12 horses entered in the male division and 10 in the female division.

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Hastings prepares for B.C. Cup Monday

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